Syracuse, NY -- Had the Syracuse University lost Friday to Temple it would have likely known its postseason bowl destination – a berth in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl – sometime this afternoon. Its 38-20 victory over the Owls combined with upset losses by Rutgers and Louisville has muddled the situation significantly.

The Orange (7-5, 5-2 Big East) can now earn a share of the conference crown pending the outcome of Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. game between the Cardinals (9-2, 4-2) and Scarlet Knights (9-2, 5-1) in New Jersey. Should Rutgers defeat Louisville it will win its first-ever conference title and a BCS bowl invitation. Should Louisville win it would create a three-way tie for the Big East title between SU, Louisville and Rutgers, at least for a few days. A Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2) victory Saturday at Connecticut (5-6, 2-4) would make it a four-way tie.

Where does all that leave Syracuse? The good news is in a bowl game, a destination that appeared unlikely when it opened the season 2-4 and was facing four of its final six games on the road.

The bad news is SU appears to have no realistic hope of sneaking into a BCS bowl game. Should Rutgers win Thursday the discussion is over. Should Louisville win and force the tie it would likely be ranked higher than SU in the final BCS standings. No Big East team was in the most recent BCS standings released Sunday night, and only 25 teams are released. That noted, it is believed that Rutgers and Louisville are on the fringe of the top-25, Cincinnati is in the mid-30s and SU in the low 40s.

Should Louisville and Cincinnati win their finales, creating the four-way tie, SU and the Bearcats would be eliminated from BCS consideration automatically courtesy of 1-2 records against the other three other teams at the top.

The BCS business addressed, Syracuse still has several potential postseason destinations, as the Big East as tie-ins with five other bowls. Here is a look at the three main candidates and SU’s chances of being invited to one of them:

Russell Athletics Bowl, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 28, Orlando (ESPN). The bowl, which offers a payout of $2,275,000, is next in line in the pecking order following the BCS selection. Technically, it is Big East 2 vs. ACC 3.

The odds are the bowl will choose the loser of the Rutgers-Louisville game, but these two things will make it take a look at Syracuse: The Orange’s 5-1 finish and its exciting offense, which is ranked No. 22 in the nation (473.42 yards per game).

If Rutgers gets the BCS bid the Russell could also opt to select an SU team that crushed Louisville 45-26 rather than the Cardinals. That would also allow it to promote the game as a future ACC member (Syracuse) vs. a current one.

Belk Bowl, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 27, Charlotte (ESPN). The Belk, which offers a $1.7 million payout, is next in line, getting Big East 3 vs. ACC 5. If Cincinnati defeats Connecticut on Saturday it would finish the season 9-3 and would be the logical choice to go to the Belk.

However, all the reasons that would make Syracuse an attractive alternative to the Russell apply here. A Big East spokesman confirmed Sunday afternoon that SU is in play for both bowls.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl, 3:15 p.m. Dec. 29, New York (ESPN). This bowl, which pays out $1.8 million and pits the fourth choice from the Big East vs. the seventh from the Big 12, remains SU’s most likely destination.

The Orange, which defeated Kansas State two years ago in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl, likes playing in New York City, the heart of its recruiting area and target of its branding endeavors. An SU-West Virginia matchup, reviving an annual rivalry that ended when the Mountaineers left for the Big 12 following last season, would draw a large crowd. This one makes the most sense.

The Big East also is committed to send a representative to the BBVA Compass Bowl, 1 p.m. Jan. 5 in Birmingham, Ala. (ESPN) and the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (ESPN). It fulfilled its obligation to the Liberty Bowl by sending a team there last year.

The only way Syracuse could fall into one of those games would be if Connecticut and/or Pittsburgh win their finales Saturday to become bowl eligible and SU gets passed over for one or both of them by the Russell, Belk and Pinstripe. That is unlikely to happen, although a Pitt victory Saturday at South Florida would make it 6-6 and set up a potential “Backyard Brawl” renewal vs. West Virginia in the Pinstripe, a game that would likely sell out Yankee Stadium.